Method of and apparatus for commingling a binder with mineral wool



g- 1934- o. F. MOTTWEILER 1,969,519

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMMINGLING A BINDER WITH-MINERAL WOOL Fiied March 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 01.11/52 6 MOTTWEILER I HTTORNEK Aug. 7,1934. 0. F. MOTTWEILER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMMINGLING A BINDERWITH MINERAL WOOL Filed March 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTOENAIL/ Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COM- MINGLING A BINDER WITH MINERAL WOOL Oliver F. Mottweilcr, Gimco City, Ind.

Application March 4, 1932, Serial No. 596,719

11 Claims. (01. 49-775) This invention relates to the provision of a novel apparatus for and method of applying a binder to mineral or rock wool to enable the same to be molded or pressed into desired shapes or forms.

The binder which I prefer to use is liquid asphaltum, and in order to set the asphaltum, so that the products made from the mineral wool will not be sticky I also apply to the mineral wool a powder, preferably in the form of an infusorial earth, such as kieselguhr.

The desirability of using such substance as asphaltum as a binder for mineral wool has heretofore been recognized, but so far as I am aware no successful method of uniformly coating the mineral wool fibers with the asphaltum, or other binder, has been devised.

Oil has been utilized by feeding it into the steam line which leads to the blast nozzle for forming the mineral wool. But it has been found impracticable to employ this process in the use of a thick binder, such as asphaltum, for the reason that, owing to the thickness and nature of the same, the steam line soon becomes clogged, and it is a matter of great difficulty to free the pipe line from deposited asphaltum. It has also been found impracticable to drop the asphaltum on the melted rock at the point of impact therewith of the steam blast, as has been done with oil, for the reason that the asphaltum does not vaporize with sufficient rapidity to impregnate the molten mass as it is shredded by the steam blast, and substantially only the fibers at the top or upper side of the projected molten 5 mass is adequately coated with asphaltum.

To overcome the above objection, and to enable the mineral wool to have a relativelythick binder, such as asphaltum, applied thereto in a manner to uniformly coat the mineral wool fibers, I have provided a method of and means for forcibly projecting the asphaltum into the stream of molten rock by means of the steam blast which acts upon the molten rock to form the mineral wool fibers, the feeding of the asphaltum being produced by the combined action of suction and pressure, or force produced by the steam blast.

For this purpose I have devised a novel blow cap to be applied to the end of the steam line at the point of application of the steam blast to the stream of molten rock to be shredded, and the blow cap, by its construction, causes the feed and application of the liquid asphaltum to the molten rock by the steam blast issuing from said blow cap. 1 I

Inorder that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I have illustrated a preferred form of the apparatus which I employ in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the parts involved in my improved apparatus assembled for operation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of my improved blow p;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is across sectional viewi taken on the line 55 of Figure 4' and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line '77 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a cupola in which the rock or slag from which the wool is to be formed is adapted to be melted, and to flow therefrom at the bottom from a small spout, 2, the molten stream flowing from the spout 2 being indicated by the numeral 30 3. The numeral 4 indicates a supply tank containing, preferably, liquid, or emulsified, asphal-' tum, from the bottom of which tank leads a pipe,

5, into the open top end of avessel, 6. The pipe 5 has a valve, 7, and terminates above a screen 35 or filter, 8, .in the top of vessel 6. When the valve 7 is opened the liquid asphaltum flows through pipe 5 onto the filter 8 and thence into the vessel 6. When the requisite quantity has been supplied to the vessel 6, the valve 7 is 99 closed. Leading from the bottom of vessel 6 is a pipe, 9, having a .valve, 10, from which leads a flexible pipe, 11. The numeral 12 indicates my improved blow cap, shown in detail in the various views on sheet two of the drawings, which blow cap is provided on its upper side with a pipe coupling, 13, to which the remote end of pipe 11 is connected.

The feed of the liquid asphaltum from the vessel 6 to the blow cap is controlled in part by gravity, and to this end the vessel 6 is provided with a bail, 14, to which is secured one end of a, cable, 15, which passes over a pulley,-

16, supported on, a ceiling orother fixed support, 17, by means of may be raised or lowered to regulate the flow of the asphaltum through the pipe 11. The free end of the cable 15 will, of course, besuitably secured to hold the vessel 6 in any position to which it may be adjusted. The quantitative which cable the vessel 6 flow of the asphaltum from the vessel 6 is also regulatedby opening or closing the valve 10 to the desired extent.

The numeral 18, Figure 1, indicates a container having a conical bottom, 19, and a cylindrical spout, 20, said container being supported on a frame, 21. Mounted on the lower end of the spout 20 is a small chamber, 20a, provided in its bottom with a valve, 22, and having in one side an outlet, 23, controlled by a valve 24. Leading from valve 24 is a pipe, 25,.the remote end of which is connected to a pipe coupling, 26, projecting from the top of the blowcap 12 at one side thereof, as shown, more particularly, in Figures 1 and 3.

The container 18 is for holding the powdered infusorial earth which is to be sprayed onto the molten rock at the same time as the binder, and for forcing this powdered earth into the chamber 20a, 1 mount centrally of the container 18, in bearings provided on spiders, 2'7, a shaft, 28, having at its lower end an auger, 29, working in the cylindrical spout 20 and provided on its upper end with a bevel gear, 30, in mesh with a similar bevel gear, 31, mounted on the shaft, 32, of a variable speed motor, 33, the latter being mounted on a bracket, 34, secured on the upper part of'the frame 21. When the motor 33 is placed in operation the auger 29 will force the powdered earth down into the chamber 20a,

from which it is withdrawn by suction in a manner which will be later described.

Referring now to sheet two of the drawings, the blow cap 12, previously referred to, comprises a circular casting, 35, provided with an interiorly screw-threaded portion, 36, in its rear side, into which is screwed the end of a pipe, 3'7, which connects with the steam line, 38, Figure 1, leading from a source of high pressure steam (not shown). The pipe coupling 13, previously referred to, to which the end of the 'pipe 11 for conveying the asphaltum is secured, is screwed into a screw-threaded aperture, 3801, Figure 4, which communicates with a radial port, 39, which in turn communicates with a central horizontal port, 40, leading through the front of the blow cap. The rear end of the port 40 is screw-threaded, as indicated at 41, and screwed into this portion of the port is a jet nozzle, 42-,

Figures 4 and 7, having a relatively small bore,

43, extending longitudinally through it, whichcommunicates at one end with the steam'pipe 37 and at the other with the port 40. The outer end of the jet nozzle 42 is located immediately under the inner end of the port 39, so that when a jet of steam under relatively high pressure issues from the bore, 43, it will tend to produce a vacuum in the port 39, on the principle of an injector, and to draw the asphal- .tum through pipe 11 into port 39 and out of.

said port into the port 40, from the outer end of which it is forcibly projected in the form of a spray produced by the jet of steam. The

front face of the blow cap, or casting 35, is provided with a V-shaped recess, 44, having an outwardly inclined rear wall, 45, so that the said recess is deeper at its upper than at its lower end, as is clearly shown in Figure 4. At

the"inner corners or angles of this V-shaped recess I provide slots, 46, Figures 3 and 5, which extend from the top to the bottom of said recess and connect at the lower end thereof.

The slots 46 are cut through the wall of the casting between the recess 45 and the screwthreaded. recess 36, ,in which the end of the steam pipe 37 is mounted, and through which slots, therefore, the steam is adapted to pass.

recess 44 in effect constitutes a. chamber open at its outer side, and is sufilciently deep to permit a suction effect to be produced within the outlet 48 and chamber 47 by the blast of steam issuing through the nozzle 42 and slots 46, which acts to draw the powdered earth from chamber 4'7 through the outlet 48, whence it falls upon the sprayed asphaltum issuing from the port 40, and together with the same is forcibly projected into engagement with the stream of molten rock 3 flowing from the cupola. Only a relatively small amount of powder is required to set the asphaltum, and this quantity may be regulated by adjusting the valve 24, or by adjusting the'yalve 22 to increase or decrease the amount of air drawn into the small chamber 20a by the suction created therein and in the pipe 25 by the projection of steam at the blow cap, as just described.

From the foregoing description of the construction of the blow cap, it will be seen that the port 40 is located at the center of a zone surrounded on all but the upper side by steam issuing at high pressure through the slots 46. Also that the powdered earth drawn through the outlet 48 falls into the center of this zone so that said powder, and the spray of asphaltum issuing from port 40, are confined between two walls in the form of steam blasts, and hence as the molten rock is shredded by impact therewith of the blast of steam issuing from the jet nozzle 42 and projected through port 40, the liquid asphaltum and the powdered earth drawn out through the outlet 48 into the zone of the steam projection, will be coincidentally forced with great power into contact with the molten rock, with the result that the fibers will be uniformly coated with the asphaltum and the powder will at the same time be combined with,

is to say, mineral wool having a binder uniform- 1y coating the fibers thereof, is then pressed into sheet form, to be subsequently used for any desired purpose, or the sheets after being pressed maybe placed in heated molds and have imparted thereto a permanent shape.

The application of a binder of the nature of asphaltum to mineral wool greatly adds to its value for use in various arts. For example, in forming pipe coverings of mineral wool, it has heretofore been found necessary in some manner to confine the mineral wool within or between walls of various materials, such as wire mesh fabric, asbestos sheets, and the like, as the ments of glass, cannot readily be pressed or compressed, and have a permanent shape imparted thereto, as such action results in breaking the filaments and to a large extent impairing the insulating properties of the mineral wool, for which purpose it is generally employed. Even when the mineral wood is oiled it can only be slightly compressed. With the use of a binder however, such as asphaltum, either with or without the conjoint use of powdered earth, the mineral wool can be compressed to a much greater degree, the fibers cohere, and the treated product can be molded into permanent shape- While I have described herein the use of asphaltum as the preferred binding material which I employ, I wish it understood that the invention is not limited to use of asphaltum, as I may employ asphaltum paint, or other characters of paints, which not only act as a binder, but enable me to import any desired color to the product formed from the mineral wool. This is quite important when my improved product is used in the form ofblocks or sheets in covering roofs or houses, or the'walls of rooms, or in similar applications where a particularcolor of material is desired.

By the use 'of the term mineral wool in the claims I wish it be understood as covering wool made from melted rock, slag, sand, clay, of

the like, the wool made from any of these products being commonly referred to as mineral wool, although some of them are specially designated, as, for, example, rock wool which is wool produced from melted rock; and slag wool, which is wool produced from melted slag.

I claim:

1. The method of producing mineral wool having a binder commingled therewith, which consists in projecting a blast into contact with a stream of molten material and continuously feeding directly into said blast after its release, and before contact with the molten material, a regulated quantity of liquid asphaltum.

2. The method of commingling a binder with mineral wool which consists in simultaneously and forcibly projecting against a stream of molten material the binder and an inert powdered substance.

3. The method of commingling a binder with mineral wool which consists in simultaneously and forcibly projecting against a stream of molten material the binding material and a powdered infusorial earth.

' 4. The method of commingling a binding material with mineral wool which consists in projecting against a stream of .molten material, a shredding blast, and causing the binding material to be drawn directly into the zone of the blast after its release by suction created by the i blast.

5. The method of producing mineral wool having a binder commingled therewith, which lated quantities of the binder, and simultaneously projecting through said blow cap blasts of steam in a manner to form continuous walls of steam located on either side of and converging below the point of projection of said first blast.

'7. Apparatus for use in commingling a binder I with mineral wool comprising, in combination with a cupola arranged to deliver a stream of molten material, a blow cap positioned in juxtaposition to the path of said stream, a container for a liquid binder operatively connected with said blow cap, a container for powdered infusorial earth also operatively connected with said blow cap, a horizontal port leading from said blow cap, a nozzle for steam mounted therein and a port for the liquid binder communicating with said horizontal port in advance of said nozzle, whereby,- when steam is projected through said horizontal port by said nozzle the liquid binder will be drawn by suction into the path of the projected steam and be forcibly applied thereby together with said infusorial earth to the stream of molten material.

8. Apparatus for use in simultaneously commingling with mineral wool liquid asphaltum and a setting material therefor in the form of a powdered infusorial earth, comprising, in comfirst named port, a recess formed in the front of said blow cap, and an outlet for the infusorial earth provided in the top of said recess,

means for feeding the powdered infusorial earth from said outlet into the path of said blast of steam and asphaltum, and a cupola having an outlet for delivering a stream of molten material across the mouth of said horizontal port.

9. Apparatus for use in commingling a binder with mineral wool comprising a blow cap, a steam line connected to the rear side thereof, a recess formed in the front of said blow cap, slots cut through the bottom of said recess to communicate with said steam line and converging at the bottom of said recess, a central horizontal port'opening through the bottom of said recess centrally between said slots, a jet nozzle mounted in said port and communicating with the steam line, a vertically disposed port..leadin intosaid horizontal port beyond the mouth of said jet nozzle, and a source of liquid binder communicating with said horizontal port.

10. Apparatus for commingling a binder with mineral wool comprising a blow cap, a steam line connected to the rear side thereof, a recess formedin the front side of said blow cap, a chamber formed in said blow cap and having an 'outlet centrally of the top of said recess, a V-shaped slot formed in said blow cap and leading from the bottom of said recess through the rear side of the blow cap, a horizontal port located centrally of the blow cap and 'of said V- shaped slot, a jet nozzle mounted in said port and communicating with the steam line, a vertically disposed port communicating with said horizontal port beyond the mouth of said jet nozzle, a source of powdered infusori'al earth communicating with said chamber, and a source of liquid binder communicating with said vertically disposed port.

11. In apparatus for commingling a binder with mineral wool, in combination with a blow 

